A feat for Paris. PSG managed to overthrow FC Barcelona 4-1 in Catalonia in their return match. And as everything is magical, the final seems more possible than ever, as its future opponent, Dortmund, seems within the reach of PSG, who beat the German club during the group stage (2-0 in September, 1-1 in December in Germany). It was an evening to dream: this victory at the end of a crazy scenario and an electric match will erase all the nightmares and erase all the wounds inflicted by Barça on PSG.
History had to be changed, and the Parisians, who remain in the race for an unprecedented treble of Champions League, Cup and French championship, did it. Until then, no French team had qualified for the next round in C1 after losing the first leg at home. Barça coach during the 2017 “comeback”, when PSG was swept aside 6-1 in the round of 16 second leg after winning 4-0 in the first leg, Luis Enrique, now at the head of the Parisian club, finally managed to turn the situation around. Twice.
A red card that changes everything
Everything changed with the expulsion of Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo (29th), excluded for having hooked just in front of the area Bradley Barcola launched at full speed on the left side. “We are angry, it is the red card which decides the match”, railed Xavi, the Catalan coach, castigating a “very bad referee”. Because until then, PSG was trailing (1-0) after Raphinha’s opener – his 3rd goal after his double in the first leg – perfectly served by the nugget Lamine Yamal (12th) who played against the Parisian Nuno Mendes.
The chances of a Parisian qualification in the last four were then very slim, especially since Lewandowski was very close to doubling the lead (20th). At the back of the wall, Luis Enrique’s men kept the pressure high and continued the attacks, including that of Barcola which caused the Barcelona expulsion. “The key to the match? I think it was putting in the intensity that we didn’t put in in the first leg. In our heads we were better, so we had everything to win”, analyzed in the mixed zone the young Parisian striker, starting Tuesday evening.
Barcelonans in pain
Open spaces, Lamine Yamal came out to bring in a defender, Inigo Martinez, the Parisians made Xavi’s men suffer, expelled just like his deputy for his virulent comments and gestures on his touchline. And it happened once again for Bradley Barcola, back from injury, who crossed at the far post for Ousmane Dembélé. Whistled at each ball taken by the Lluís-Companys Olympic stadium, the former Barcelona player equalized with a powerful shot from the right (1-1, 40th).
“Everyone believed in it. Even though we lost 3-2 in the first leg, we didn’t give up. We knew we were going to score goals here in Barcelona, and there you have it, it’s a big work of the whole team”, appreciated Dembélé in front of the Canal+ camera.
“We are ready to go to the final”
Too discreet and not effective enough during the first leg, Kylian Mbappé, expected to join Real Madrid next season, was eagerly awaited. Supported this week by Luis Enrique, the N.7, who had not shown himself too much until then, showed composure by taking the penalty (3-1, 61st) caused by Ousmane Dembélé, the goal which allowed direct qualification without going through extra time. And then he delivered all his own at the end of the match, celebrating his double below the 3,000 Parisian ultras around all his teammates.
“We are ready to go to the final,” he warned in the mixed zone, repeating his “dream of winning the Champions League with Paris”. PSG and Mbappé took off (4-1, 89th) after a mix-up in the Barcelona area and despite a double save from Ter Stegen. But the French striker took advantage of a delivery from Jules Koundé at his feet to deceive the Barcelona goalkeeper. “He was the leader, he set the example and when Kylian Mbappé succeeds in transmitting that, we are better,” greeted Luis Enrique at a press conference.
Beaten tactically by his former teammate Xavi during the first round, the Spanish coach of PSG, who had decided to align his usual attack with Barcola, Dembélé and Mbappé, this time managed to perfectly manage Robert Lewandowski and his fixing work. The depth was also better managed by the defense of Lucas Hernandez and Marquinhos, again in the center and who saved his team on several occasions (73rd, 88th), not failing to celebrate his interventions with angry fists.